Newer Impressions of the Roles of Guidance Counselors (Lyndi Quinones)

After going through the reading and literature on the history of guidance counseling, its requirements within the university settings, and the time allocations in high school for the state of Georgia, I am more convinced that guidance counselors can still be a crucial advocate in the academic success of our students. Even so, the economic constraints that our school systems are feeling make it so that their positions are the first to be examined in terms of efficacy and the schools' economic sustainability. The roles of guidance counselors have remained the same; they are not just looked at people who will listen, but also as members of the administration who coordinate testing schedules and materials, plan events that bring about community support, assist teachers within the classroom setting, and even serve as assistant principals on a regular basis. When they are allowed to effectively do their jobs, guidance counselors are involved in a positive partnership between parents, teachers, and students. Unfortunately, the many roles that they take on within their schools can impair their ability to feel fulfilled and happy in their roles as guidance counselors and, more often than not, create a sense of burnout and fatigue rather than zeal and enthusiasm for their work. Nevertheless, parents continue to rely on guidance counselors to help their students as they grow and develop throughout adolescence and confront the challenges that come with turning into an adult.